Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in Illinois by ROI
Colleges in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Illinois
15
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$182,547
Across Illinois programs
Average Annual Cost
$35,023
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Roosevelt University
Grad rate: 41.8% |
+$320,936 | $67,732 | $48,426 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
DePaul University
Grad rate: 69.7% |
+$132,119 | $63,358 | $59,467 | $42,350 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Quincy University
Grad rate: 46.7% |
-$30,008 | $49,520 | $45,102 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Northern Illinois University
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$95,508 | $44,749 | $27,214 | $30,839 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Lewis University
Grad rate: 62.4% |
-$128,272 | $44,755 | $45,843 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of Illinois Springfield
Grad rate: 57.2% |
-$132,352 | $42,100 | $23,643 | $29,467 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Blackburn College
Grad rate: 43.5% |
-$168,668 | $40,959 | $36,962 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Northeastern Illinois University
Grad rate: 17.7% |
-$259,022 | $35,638 | $27,208 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Eastern Illinois University
Grad rate: 50.2% |
-$261,953 | $35,772 | $26,164 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Western Illinois University
Grad rate: 46.2% |
-$272,084 | $35,902 | $27,828 | $28,750 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Illinois State University
Grad rate: 66.7% |
-$310,120 | $34,580 | $32,458 | $23,621 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Governors State University
Grad rate: 20.2% |
-$348,239 | $31,667 | $23,076 | $36,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Grad rate: 52.5% |
-$372,086 | $31,176 | $29,268 | $28,544 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Chicago State University
Grad rate: 21.1% |
-$388,816 | $32,295 | $30,454 | $54,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Saint Xavier University
Grad rate: 55.8% |
-$424,138 | $31,333 | $42,237 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.